The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) is set to commence a nationwide series of Peace walks and forums to promote the need for peaceful and credible elections when the nation goes to the polls on November 7. MUSIGA’s initiative is to highlight the need for a violence free campaign and peaceful and credible elections.

The first leg of the Peace walks and forums will start on Thursday June 9 in the Northern regional capital of Tamale. The walk will take place along some of the principal streets in the city and end with a peace forum where local leaders of the security agencies, political parties, youth groups and similar organizations will address the gathering and pledge for peace. From Tamale the MUSIGA Peace train moves to Bolgatanga on Friday June 10 and Wa on Wednesday June 14 before heading to Sunyani on Friday June 17.

The second leg of the Peace walks starts in Takoradi on June 23 followed by Cape Coast on June 24 and Kumasi on June 28 before heading to Ho on July 7, Koforidua on July 9 and climaxes in Accra on Wednesday August 10. The 2nd Vice President of the Union Rev Dr Thomas Yawson says the Peace walks and forums are part of a national campaign to promote the need for peaceful and credible elections. Rev DrYawson adding that MUSIGA will take advantage of the nationwide peace walks to hold its regional elections.

Other activities lined up by MUSIGA include social media activationinvolving music celebrities and musical concerts. During the last Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2012, the Union engaged in a series of activities towards a peaceful election which included presenting a petition to Parliament.

The MUSIGA initiative is dubbed ‘Using Music as a tool for National Cohesion or Election 2016’ and is sponsored by STAR-Ghana with support from Midland Savings and Loans.

Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness (STAR-Ghana) is a voice and empowerment programme with a vision to see an active and engaged civil society capable of articulating citizens’ demands and an effective state that is responsive and accountable to its citizens’.

STAR-Ghana’s goal is to develop a vibrant, well-informed and assertive civil society able to contribute to transformational national development and inclusive access to high quality, accountable public services for all Ghanaian citizens’.